Illuminated suction device

ABSTRACT

An illuminated suction device comprising a suction tube, an illumination assembly comprising at least one direct light source, and a housing partially enclosing the illumination assembly and the suction tube, wherein the housing includes a rigid housing portion forming a handle at a proximal end of the suction device and enclosing a first portion of the suction tube, and a flexible housing portion partially enclosing the at least one direct light source and a second portion of the suction tube.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/917,327 filed on Jun. 30, 2020, which is acontinuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/646,372filed on Jul. 11, 2017, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Pat.App. No. 62/441,645, filed on Jan. 3, 2017, and entitled “IlluminatedSuction Device”, and also claims priority to U.S. Provisional Pat. App.No. 62/360,810, filed on Jul. 11, 2016, and also entitled “IlluminatedSuction Device”. The entire contents of each of those applications areincorporated herein by reference.

INTRODUCTION

Embodiments described herein relate to a surgical instrument and moreparticularly to an instrument which is especially well suited for theremoval of body fluids such as blood from a surgical wound and forsimultaneously illuminating an area of the wound so that the same can bevisualized by a surgeon.

It is often necessary during the course of a surgical procedure for bodyfluids, such as blood, to be removed from the area of the surgical woundin order that the same may be visualized by the surgeon. Thearrangements hitherto provided for the removal of such fluids from andfor the illumination of surgical wounds have left much to be desired.

This may be better appreciated when it is understood that it is oftennecessary to maintain a surgical suction device in place in the wound inorder to permit the surgeon to visualize the point at which the bleedinghas occurred. Particularly when such a suction device is in place, it isextremely difficult and often impossible to prevent the suction devicefrom interfering with the desired visualization and illumination.

Hand-held suction devices are routinely used during surgical procedures.These devices are typically connected to a standard suction source inthe operating room, enabling the physician to dynamically andefficiently remove blood, bone fragments, or fluid previously irrigatedinto the surgical site. These suction devices are sometimes also used toprovide low force retraction of fat, muscle, or other structures duringthe procedure. The surgeon holds the suction device from its proximalend, manipulating the distal portion of the suction device during thesurgical procedure in order to provide suction at the desired location.Hand-held suction devices are widely available in a variety of distaltip configurations suited to various surgical applications.

A Yankauer suction device is a medical instrument that provides suctionto a wound or other surgical incision to remove fluids from the area.Yankauer suction devices come in a metal version (as shown in FIG. 1 )and a plastic version (as shown in FIG. 2 ). The plastic versiondepicted in FIG. 2 is a sterile, single-use suction tool used to removemucus from the mouth, primarily from the throat. The Yankauer suctiondevice in FIG. 2 is rigid and has a curved one-piece design made withshatterproof acrylics plastic.

One end of the depicted Yankauer suction device is connected to a tubing(which provides the suction) that can work with suction machine devices,and the other end is inserted into the area to be evacuated. The devicesmay come with several style tips. Some have a hole at the end and somehave additional holes on the sides.

FIG. 2 shows a device having a hole in the top of the handle. This holemay be used by the operator to control the suction at the tip. If theoperator covers the hole with his thumb the full suction will be presentat the tip. Opening the hole will dramatically reduce the suction at thetip.

Alternatively, referring to FIG. 3 , a Yankauer suction device may havea built-in shutoff valve, which may be used by the operator to controlthe suction at the tip.

However, none of the traditional suction devices have a permanent,integral light source. Most lack any light source, requiring theoperator to provide an external light source. This external light sourceis often difficult to direct into deep tissue cavities, leaving theoperator with limited visibility into the patient cavity.

FIG. 4 shows a recent improvement of a built-in light channel thatprovides light to the tip of the suction device. Unfortunately, thislight channel is not a light source. The light source in this product isa portable external laser unit, connected to the suction device via afiber optic cable. Such suction devices with optic cables presentadditional cabling problems during the procedure, cleaning problemsbetween procedures, and cost problems (the laser sources are expensive,as are the fiber optic cables).

One or more embodiments described herein advantageously provide asuction and illumination device which is especially well suited for usein carrying out surgical procedures and which provides for simultaneousevacuation of fluids from and illumination of a surgical wound.

One or more embodiments described herein advantageously provide ahand-held illuminated suction device that includes suction andillumination functions irremovably integrated into the device.

One or more embodiments described herein advantageously provide adisposable suction device to enable leverage of manufacturingefficiencies.

One or more embodiments described herein advantageously provide a lowcost, high-performance combination device that provides an attractivealternative to existing discrete illumination and suction devices whileminimizing incremental cost to the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a conventional suction device made ofmetal.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a conventional suction device made ofplastic.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a conventional suction device having abuilt-in shutoff valve.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a conventional suction device having alight channel connected to an external laser unit.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an illuminated suction device according toa first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of an illuminated suction device according toa second exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of an illuminated suction device according toa third exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of an illuminated suction device according toa fourth exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 9 depicts a disassembled version of an exemplary embodiment.

FIGS. 10-12 depict an embodiment of the assembled device.

LEGEND

In the drawings, the following legend applies to the use of referencenumerals.

-   -   2 cover    -   4 cover    -   5 LED holder    -   7 handle portion    -   10 suction device    -   11 LED    -   12 LED wires    -   13 illumination switch    -   14 battery pack    -   15 suction device    -   15 a suction tube    -   16 suction control switch/valve    -   17 grip    -   18 suction input    -   19 suction port    -   20 shrink wrap

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SELECT EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Drawings have been used herein to depict select exemplary embodiments.For the sake of clear illustration, many practical details are explainedtogether in the description below. However, it should be appreciatedthat those details should not be used to limit the scope of any claimsthat issue in connection with this application. In some embodiments,certain details are not essential.

Moreover, for the sake of drawing simplification, some customarystructures and elements in the drawings have been shown in a simplifiedway. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in thedrawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art. It should be further understood thatterms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should beinterpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning inthe context of the relevant art and the present description, and shouldnot be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unlessexpressly so defined herein.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an illuminated suction device according toan exemplary embodiment. An illuminated suction device 15 includessuction and illumination functions integrated into a hand-held device.As shown in FIG. 5 , the illuminated suction device 15 has a proximalend and a distal end connected by a central portion. The proximal end ofthe suction tube 15 a is provided with fittings for connection to avacuum source, while the distal end enables the operator to apply thesuction device directly to the desired region. The illuminated suctiondevice 15 may be constructed with a permanent light source, such as LED11. LED 11 is powered by battery pack 14 and is directly and permanentlyembedded into the central portion of the suction device 15. The batterypack 14 is connected to LED 11 through LED wires 12 and provides powerto LED 11.

The battery or batteries in battery pack 14 may be sized to contain onlyenough charge to illuminate a single procedure, thus offeringenergy-efficient, low-cost illumination. With the low cost LEDillumination, the suction device (integrating suction and illuminationfunctions) may be (mandatorily) disposable after a single use. Thissolves the illumination problem, and also solves the problems of cost,cabling, and cleaning/sterilization.

Alternatively, the batteries may be sized to contain sufficient chargeto illuminate multiple procedures. The illuminated suction device mayalso include an illumination switch 13 for switching LED 11 betweenON/OFF status.

In this embodiment, illumination switch 13 may located above the batterypack 14. Illumination switch 13 may be a light dimmer switch, whichallows an operator to control the level of illumination. Switch 13 mayalternatively be a pull-tab switch, further mandating that the device bedisposed of after a single use, or may be any other type of suitableswitch, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In other embodiments, switch 13 may be located at the proximal end ofthe device (see FIGS. 6 and 7 ), or at the distal end (see FIG. 8 ).

In other embodiments, switch 13 may be replaced with a magnetic reedswitch located in close proximity to the suction shut off valve and amagnet is embedded into the shut off valve such that the act of openingthe shutoff valve will also move the magnet into close proximity to thereed switch and thus active the reed switch and turn on the light. Thisembodiment enables one control to be used for both the shutoff valve aswell as the light switch. Those skilled in the art will understand howsliding the shutoff valve open or partially open can move an imbeddedmagnet towards a fixed position reed switch which is embedded in thebody of the suction device in such a location to activate the magneticreed switch when the suction valve is open or partially open anddeactivate the magnetic reed switch when the shutoff valve is closed.Those skilled in the art will see that the magnetic reed switch can bereplaced with other proximity sensors such as hall effect sensors toreplicate the convenience created by having one control activate boththe suction and the light source.

In other embodiments the LED (11) may directly shine light toward thedistal end of the suction device, or may direct light into the clearplastic shaft of the suction device where the light may be conducted andthen dispersed from integral lenses at or near the distal tip of thesuction device.

With respect to materials, one exemplary aspect comprises an illuminatedsuction device, comprising: a distal end having a suction tip; aproximal end having a connector for a suction tube; and an illuminationassembly comprising at least one light source, at least one battery andan activation device for energizing the light source, and theillumination assembly being permanently attached to the suction device,wherein the suction device is molded from at least one of: an injectionmoldable polymer, a low conductivity polymer, and a radiolucent polymer.In one or more embodiments the polymer may have a conductivity of lessthan 10⁻⁶ A.

FIG. 9 depicts a disassembled version of an exemplary embodiment.

Item 7 is the handle portion of a standard Yankauer suction device.

Item 19 is the connection port for attaching a suction hose.

Item 18 is the distal end of the Yankauer suction device which is usedto remove fluid from the patient. Item 18 can be of different shapes tofacilitate the type of suction needed. Existing art includes a straightend as shown (18), or a ball end which facilitates suction from thesides of the ball (not shown).

Item 16 is a suction valve which inhibits or restricts the connectionbetween the suction port (19) and the suction input (18).

Item 14 is the battery pack which contains sufficient charge for asingle use. It may be (and preferably is) disposable and thus compatiblewith medical waste procedures which include safe incineration. Batterychemistry such as alkaline batteries are compatible with incineration.

Item 12 are connecting wires that make the circuit between the switch(13), the batteries (14) and the LED (11).

Item 5 is an LED holder that is shaped such that it can easily fit overa ball end (at location 18) but still fit flush against the lengthportion of the suction tube (15 a).

Items 4 and 2 are covers which contain the handle portion of theYankauer suction device (7), the batteries (14), the switch (13), and aportion of the wire (13).

Item 20 is a shrink wrap which fits over a portion of the LED holder(5), a portion of the suction tube length (15 a), a portion of the wire(12), and a portion of the covers (4) and (2). This shrink wrappreferably has several unique properties to the assembly. The shrinkwrap shrinks in diameter when heat is applied. After it is properlyplaced and heated it will shrink to anchor the LED holder (5), wire (12)and the ends of covers (4) and (2). No additional and expensiveanchoring is required.

Although all components are properly anchored in position, the shrinkwrap still allows the normal flexibility of the Yankauer length portion.This flexibility is important to operation during a medical procedure asthe Yankauer is often pressed against patient tissue and the Yankauerflexing helps prevent tissue damage and increases patient safety.Although shrink wrap is used in this embodiment, those skilled in theart will understand that other means of attachment, such as welding,adhesives, etc., may also be used without departing from the scope ofthe invention described herein.

In an embodiment, a light source comprises at least one lamp and atleast one battery within a container permanently affixed to the suctiondevice, wherein a longitudinal side of the container opens onto a sideof the suction device such that the container and the side togethercircumferentially enclose and secure the at least one battery to thedevice.

In an embodiment, the illumination assembly (i.e., at least the lightsource and at least one battery) is enclosed within a containerpermanently affixed to the suction device, wherein a longitudinal sideof the container opens onto a side of the suction device such that thecontainer and the side together circumferentially enclose and secure theat least one battery to the device.

FIGS. 10-12 depict the assembled device.

Although certain embodiments have been described in considerable detailherein, other embodiments, variations, and modifications that fallwithin the spirit and scope of the invention will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art. Therefore, the scope of any claims allowed for thisapplication should not be limited to any specific embodiments or to anynon-claimed details of the embodiments described herein.

1. An illuminated suction device comprising: a suction tube; an illumination assembly comprising at least one direct light source; and a housing partially enclosing the illumination assembly and the suction tube, wherein the housing includes a rigid housing portion forming a handle at a proximal end of the suction device and enclosing a first portion of the suction tube, and a flexible housing portion partially enclosing the at least one direct light source and a second portion of the suction tube.
 2. The illuminated suction device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one direct light source is positioned to emit light directly toward a distal tip of the suction tube.
 3. The illuminated suction device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one direct light source is held between the housing and a side of the suction tube.
 4. The illuminated suction device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the handle accommodates one or more of an activation device for activating the at least one direct light source and suction control for controlling suction through the suction tube.
 5. The illuminated suction device in accordance with claim 4, wherein the handle accommodates the suction control comprising a suction valve.
 6. The illuminated suction device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the illumination assembly further comprises a holder assembly for positioning the at least one direct light source and wherein said holder assembly is configured to fit flush against a side of the suction tube.
 7. The illuminated suction device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one direct light source is a LED.
 8. The illuminated suction device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one light source is positioned closer to the distal tip of the suction tube than to the proximal end.
 9. The illuminated suction device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the illumination assembly further comprises at least one power source housed within the handle.
 10. The illuminated suction device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the proximal end of the suction device includes a fitting configured to connect to a vacuum source.
 11. An illuminated suction device comprising: a suction tube; an illumination assembly comprising at least one direct light source and a holder for positioning the at least one direct light source; and a housing partially enclosing the at least one direct light source and the suction tube, wherein the at least one direct light source is held between the housing and a side of the suction tube, wherein the holder positions at least one direct light source between the housing and a side of the suction tube so as to emit light directly toward a distal tip of the suction tube; and wherein the holder extends along a portion of the side of the suction tube.
 12. The illuminated suction device in accordance with claim 11, wherein said holder is configured to fit flush against the side of the suction tube. 